Decoding gauges for keys



May 3, 1955 M. FALK 2,707,335

DECODING GAUGES FOR KEYS Filed Jan. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1a. au G C 3 f g 3/ 6 I 30.-/ m? 7 l5 172$ ii, 23 "E0 I6 /8 INVENTOR gnorris Falk i I ATTORNEY May 3, 1955 M. FALK DECODING GAUGES FOR KEYS Filed Jan. 9, 1951 HS 85 I \O 10 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR -M0rris Fa l/r ATTORNEY United States Patent DECODING GAUGES FOR KEYS Morris Falk, Leominster, Mass., assignor to Independent Lock Company, Fitchburg, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 9, 1951, Serial No. 205,205

11 Claims. (Cl. 33-174) This invention relates to key decoding mechanisms and more particularly to gauges for decoding of keys preparatory to cutting and to key blanks to be used therewith for quick gauging thereby.

My invention is concerned with the provisions of decodin g mechanisms or gauges for the duplication or identification of keys to spacially determine the position of the bitting on the bit or blade of the key. My invention has as its objective to provide a decoding instrument or gauge adapted for key cutting by machines or cutting devices for cutting keys by code without the use of samples, masters, patterns or depth keys of any kind whereby, upon determining the spacial point at which the bit cut is to be produced and/or the depth of such bits, the cutting machine may be set to effect the cut or form the bitting. In this manner, accuracy of key duplication is assured as contrasted with key cut-ting from samples, masters, patterns or the like.

My invention in its more specific exemplification concerns itself with the provision of a key decoding gauge for keys and key blanks to be gauged thereby whose shank and the warded portion thereof combine one or both segmen-ts of the bit of the key to multiply the possible combinations and specifically by handing of the ward in relation to a handing bit, the number of combinations may be made more extensive by employing the same contour of key blank.

Still more particularly, my invention resides in the provision of decoding gauges which will permit a reading of a cut key with accuracy despite the asymmetrical alignment of a handing notch and warding groove so that double-bitted keys which have pressed out code grooves and handing notches may be duplicated without error and to simplify the labor of duplicating keys whether by machine or by hand.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof in which-- Figure l is a plan view of a key blank;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a key blank handed to the right;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a key blank handed to the left;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a decoding gauge showing a side up for decoding a key blank handed to the right;

Figure 6 is the reverse side of the same turned up for decoding a key blank handed to the left;

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a plan view showing the position of the gauge turned up for gauging a key blank handed to the right and with a key blank in position handed to the left;

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 5;

Figures 10 and 11 are front and reverse faces illustrating another embodiment of my invention.

Summarizing my invention, it involves the provision of decoding gauges of simple and inexpensive construe 2,707,335 Patented May 3, 1 955 tion wherein the key bit may be accurately aligned to identify the spacial location of the hitting and to include indicia and handing contour conforming outline whereby decoding may be accurately effected and without error with respect of asymmetrical key blanks which are doublebitted and handed and more particularly the provision of a key blank which may be accurately decoded and gauged for hitting and is virtually fool-proof in carrying out such operations, and to facilitate with accuracy the marking of a key blank to permit accurate hitting of the key blank by hand filing operations.

Making reference to the drawing, my invention has specific applicability both with regard to a decoding gauge and key blank illustrated in conjunction with the views wherein the key blank 1 has a double-bitted blade 2 formed with a central symmetrically positioned warding groove 3 pressed out longitudinally thereof, leaving the wings 4 and 5 extended in a plane spaced to one side of the warding groove 3. Such a key is preferably stamped from sheet metal to provide the embossed warding groove and rib instead of milling or cutting the groove from thicker stock of sheet metal. The forward end of the blade has a symmetrically contoured camrning nose 6 with the peak or point thereof extended in line with the pressedout portion forming the groove and rib previously described. A key blank of the contour illustrated, by reason of its symmetry, may be bitted and handed to the left or right.

For handing in accordance with the invention here involved, a notch is cut out from either one of the wings 4 and 5 adjacent the nose 6. In the illustration the handing is based upon the groove being faced downwardly, as shown in Figure 2. The notch 7 is cut on the wing 5 positioned to the right of the rib 3a, as viewed in Figure 3, adjacent the camming nose 6 Notching the wing 5 will accordingly hand the key blank with the groove 3 and rib 3a to the left in entering a vertical keyhole slot. Such a key blank may be given the indicia R.

Notching the same key blank with the notch 7' on the wing 4 to the left of the rib 3a, as viewed in Figure 4, will accordingly hand the groove 3 and rib 3a to the right in entering a vertically disposed keyhole slot. Such a key blank may be identified with the indicia L.

By furnishing key blanks with the handing notched portion 7 or 7' preliminarily cut therein, key reproduction may be simplified with a key blank of symmetrical contour to apply the hitting and for decoding with fool-proof accuracy.

The double-bitted keys described may be used with the decoding gauges I have illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. The tumbler bits in this form of key are cut of uniform depth. The key blank 1 has shoulder portions 9 in relation to the shank 10 and the pressed-out wardinggroove and rib 3 has an extension 311 beyond the shoulder as will appear herebelow. The bitting flanges 4 and 5 lie in a single plane to serve as a basis for accurate inspection when viewed on the concave face side of the key blank, or when this side is pressed onto a table or fiat surface for accurate work.

In the views the decoding gauge G has a slot 10a running centrally and longitudinally thereof, forming a stop point 11 adjacent the end corresponding to the length of the blade of the key from adjacent the nose portion 6 to the shoulder 9. A handing extension portion 13, when viewed from the front face F of the gauge, corresponds to a position of the handing cutout notch 7 of the key which is handed with the notch to the right, Figure 3, and for this purpose the face F may have applied to it the handing indicium R. The edge 14 may have a series of guide lines 15 corresponding to the spacial location of the bits in accordance with the tumblers of a lock in which the key is to be employed. Indicia 15a progress from a clearance space 16 to the notch 13 in arithmetical progression from left to right. The edge 17 has scribe guide grooves 17a directed normal to the edge 17 and being distributed in number to the clearance space 16 and marked with indicia 17b in arithmetical progression, reading from right to left. Indicia 17b identify the spaces between the guide grooves corresponding to the bits for the tumblers of the lock.

On the reverse side the gauge G has an identifying indicium L for the keys handed with the cutout handed to the left. The edge 14 will now appear on the left and the edge 17 will appear on the right. Reading guide lines or scribe guide grooves 15b are provided to run normal to the edge 14 on the reverse side and the spaces between each pair of such guide lines or grooves are identified with indicia 15c and are arranged in arithmetical progression, reading from the notch 13 to the clearance space 16, previously described.

The edge 17 is provided with reading guide lines or scribe guide grooves 170 and the spaces between these guide grooves are provided with indicia 17d in arithmetical progression, reading from the clearance portion 16 to the bottom of the slot beyond the indentation 13.

I have referred to the clearance portion 16 which provides a space between the end 12 and the first guide groove appearing to each edge 14 and 17 of the slot 10a. It will appear that when a key blank, such as shown in Figure 3 and which has a handing notch 7 on the wing 5, is aligned in the slot 10a with the face F showing the indicium R, the key blank may have wings 4 and 5 aligned with the gauge on the reverse side and with the groove 3 projecting above the plane of the face of the gauge. A proper key handed to the right will seat the notch 7 to conform to the indentation 13, and will bring the shoulders 9 in engagement with the end 12. The extension 3:: of the Warding groove will project adjacent the clearance space 16.

It will be observed that with the gauge positioned with the face R upwardly, that a key blank such as shown in Figure 4, with the handing notch 7' cut from the wing 4,

may likewise be positioned in the slot 10a to abut the notch 7 and to have the shoulders 9 abut the end 12. In this case, however, the warding groove 3 will project, with the convex face downward. An error as to whether the properly handed key has been aligned with the proper face may arise unless care is exercised to maintain the wings 4 and 5 aligned with the gauge in the same plane.

To eliminate the likelihood of a key or key blank being aligned with the wrong face of the gauge to involve a wrong decoding reading or positioning, I provide by riveting or other attachment in the clearance space 16 previously described, transverse straps 18 and 19, having their inner edges 20 in alignment with the first of the transverse grooves or guide lines 1711 or 17c on opposed faces of the gauge within the clearance space 16. The inside edges 21 and 22 define a throat equivalent to the thickness of the metal of the gauge and substantially equivalent to the thickness of the stock of the metal of the key blank. Medially the straps 18 and 19 are formed with ridge portions 23 and 24, convexly positioned to have the grooves 25 and 26 conform to the convex face portion of the warding rib 3a.

In use for decoding, the gauge may be held to have one face in contact with a flat surface, such as the face 27 of a block 28. The ridge 24 may act as a stop against the corner 29 of the block. In this position, the rib 3a will lie spaced from the surface 27 and the groove 3 will face the surface 27. The extension 3b will fall in the groove 25 freely, when alignment is achieved, and the shoulder 9 abuts the end 12 of the gauge. Should an improper key blank be positioned, the notch 7a in the illustration shown in Figure 8 will not be properly aligned with the extension 13, preventing the blade from reaching the bottom of the slot 10a and spacing the shoulders 9 of the key blank from the end 12.

Any attempt to align the shoulder 9 with the end 12 I will be prevented by the binding effect of the canting action of the throat defined by the straps 18 and 19 upon the angular position of the key. Likewise, resting the gauge and key blank on a hat surface, as illustrated in Figure 9 or aligning of the parts with the fingers will throw the key from within the slot 10a, preventing accurate alignment of the wings 4 and 5 with the gauge edges 14 and 17.

The gauge is' properly used with a properly handed key blank or a key to be decoded when the nose 6 is thrust into the slot 19a, to have either the cutout 7 or 7 resting against the extension 13 and the shoulders 9 against the end 12 of the gauge. In such position the wings 4 and 5 coincide with the gauge and the bits in a cut key may be decoded readily.

Upon viewing Figure 5 it will be apparent that the left edge of the key will have a decoding reading 6-4l adjacent the wing 4. For convenience, the gauge face marked with the indicium R may have its edge 30 marked with the legend comprising the words left side and the edge 31 may be marked with the legend right side. On the reverse side L, the edge 31 is marked with the legend left side and the edge 30 is marked with the legend right side.

By matching the key blank, Figure 3, to coordinate the indicia R with the face of the gauge showing the indicia R, or conversely, by using a key blank as shown in Figure 4-, marked with the indicia L, to align it with the face of the gauge showing the indicia L, and thrusting the keys in position so that the end of the nose 6 is adjacent the crotch of the slot 10a, with the shoulders 9 abutting the end 12 of the gauge, alignment with the gauge installation as described is assured for proper decoding.

The accuracy of alignment permits the key blank and gauge to be positioned as shown in Figure 9, to have the transverse grooves 17a serve as guides for a scriber or like pointed tool, to permit accurate projection from the gauge reading to the wings of the key blank, and thereby to permit hand filing for accurate duplication of the bitting cuts on the keys. Thus, while the decoding gauge as described by me may be used to set the cutting machine to duplicate the key blank, the gauge as described may be used to produce a mark of extreme accuracy'for a hand finishing operation.

It will thus be observed that by the key blanks which I have provided, including either a handing notch 7 or 7, keys having the intricate arrangement afforded by double-hitting the blades may be accurately decoded without error, achieving almost fool-proof operations and, likewise, affording the marking necessary for the bitting cuts to be performed from scriber guided markings transferred from the transverse grooves so that either a duplicating machine or a hand file may be used to reproduce the desired key, without the use of samples, masters, patterns, or depth keys of any kind.

Another feature of the invention resides in arranging the series of indicia adjacent the edges 14 and 17 so that the progression is preferably made in opposite directions for each of the series of contiguous faces and on adjacent faces of each edge. In this manner, error in reading the spacial position of each of the hitting elements is further minimized in that a record which is made thereof will show one wing to be cut has the code cuts for the bitting in an increasing progression, and the other wing has the code cuts for the hitting in a decreasing progression of code numbers as to the direction of progression, but uniformly oriented when positioned in the cutting machine.

It will be observed that while i prefer to provide the gauge with the straps defining an aligning throat, for more skillful locksmiths, such straps defining a key aligning throat may be omitted. Likewise, it will be observed that while I have described and illustrated a gauge with a single slot 10a, similar results may be achieved in a measure by a gauge having a central tongue, the opposite sides of which correspond to the edges 14 and 17 outlining the slot 100. For this purpose, I refer to the embodiment in Figures and 11 wherein I have shown the front and rear faces FA and RA of the gauge GA. A tongue portion 165a is marked with reference lines and indicia 16812. A handing indentation 1641) appears on the left edge when viewed from the front F as shown in Figure 10. Reversing the gauge to expose the reverse face R will position the handing indentation 164]) on the right edge, when viewed as shown in Figure 11. Indicia 167b and 16% show the left and right positions, with keys handed to fit with the handing indentation and as in the prior embodiment, give the code bitting to be applied.

By the gauges shown in Figures 1 to 11, doubie-bitted keys may be out quickly and facilely with the manually operable key cutting device illustrated, employing a predetermined depth of cut and relying upon the spacial positioning of the carriage to cut the combination of bits on the upper and lower flanges of the key.

By the key blank which I have provided and the gauges which I have illustrated to be used therewith, the benefits of a double-sided blade for a double-bitted key may be obtained, to secure a wide variety of combinations, with accuracy of reproduction by decoding gauges supplied herein, requiring the minimum amount of skill and attention to reproduce a proper key blank.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A decoding gauge for use in decoding a doublesided blade for a double-bitted key, said gauge including a sheeted body portion having a key shank aligning portion having indicia along its iength and a key shoulder engaging portion, said key shank aligning portion comprising a handing extension portion adjacent one end arranged to fit a notch cut for asymmetrically handing a key to be decoded in the key shank aligning position.

2. A key decoding gauge for use in decoding a doublesided blade for a double-bitted key, comprising a sheeted body having a pair of key wing aligning edges on one face, a key nose slot adjacent one of said edges offset with respect to 'the other edge providing a key nose conforming slot adjacent each edge on opposite faces of said gauge, one of which edges includes a handing extension arranged to engage a notch on the key for correctly aligning the obverse and reverse faces of the key in handed position, and including along said edges a series of indicia in conforming sequential progression.

3. A decoding gauge for use in decoding a doublebitted key in accordance with claim 1 wherein the key aligning portion has mounted opposite to said end a transverse abutment strap outlining a throat substantially conforming to the transverse section of the key shank whereby the key may be seated in gauge aligned position in abutting position throughout the length of the key.

4. A key decoding gauge for use in decoding a key having a double-bitted blade extending from shoulder members, said gauge comprising a sheeted body including a longitudinal cutout defining spaced side edges conforming to the key width and having an extension adjacent one edge of the slot conforming to the handing notch, guide straps across the spaced edges of said slot forming a throat, said guide straps being shaped to the contour of said key, to align the key in conformation with the cutout slot throughout its length and in abutment with the shoulder members of said key.

5. A key decoding gauge for use in decoding a key of sheet material having a double wing blade, said gauge including a sheet having a cutout longitudinally thereof dividing the sheet into two segments of a length arranged to extend from shoulders of the key to the nose portion thereof, and said cutout having adjacent the crotch at one end a handing extension, cross bars attached to said segments defining a throat portion spanning the segments conforming to the contour of the convexiy displaced face of the key whereby to align a conforming handed key in the slot with the shoulders thereof in abutment with the ends of the segments and the handing notch in conforming position with the handing extension whereby the key wings lie in the plane of the gauge and prevent shoulder seating position of an incorrectly handed key.

6. A key decoding gauge and key cutting guide for use in decoding a key having a double-sided blade with a convexly pressed face, said gauge comprising a sheetcd body including a sheet having a longitudinal cutout defined by the opposed edges of the spaced remnant segments and spaced from each other for a distance corresponding to the width of the key and having an extension in the crotch conforming to the left and right handing notch of keys when viewed from the obverse and reverse sides, the ends of the spaced segments forming an abutment and cross straps defining a throat joining the segments, conforming to the convexly shaped face of the key blank whereby said key, properly handed, may be seated in the cutout in alignment longitudinally and transversely with the gauge turned with the handing extension conformingly turned.

7. A key decoding gauge in accordance with claim 6 wherein said opposed edges of the spaced remnant segments have indicium identified bit defining markings.

8. A key decoding gauge in accordance with claim 6 wherein said opposed edges of the spaced remnant segments have indicium identified bit defining markings comprising transverse scribe guiding grooves.

9. A key decoding gauge in accordance with ciaim 6 wherein said opposed edges of the spaced remnant segments have indicium identified bit defining markings, the indicia being arranged in inverse arithmetic progression along each edge.

10. A key decoding gauge in accordance with claim 6 wherein said opposed edges of the spaced remnant segments have indicium identified bit defining markings and handing indicia on each face 11. A key decoding gauge for use in decoding a doublesided blade for a double-bitted key comprising a sheet body having a pair of key wing aligning edges on one face, a key nose slot adjacent one of said edges offset with respect to the other edge providing a key nose slot adjacent each edge on opposite faces of said gauge, one of which edges includes a handing extension arranged to engage a notch on the key for correctly aligning the obverse and reverse faces of the key in handed position, and including along said edges a series of indicia in conforming sequential progression.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 505,440 Cowles Sept. 26, 1893 1,725,557 Baird -1 Aug. 20, 1929 1,792,481 Carter Feb. 17, 1931 1,795,318 Simon Mar. 10, 1931 1,860,174 Cronk May 2 1932 1,979,960 Coughlin Nov. 6, 1934 1,991,151 Hansen Feb. 12, 1935 2,065,294 Simon Dec. 22, 1936 2,070,228 Fitz Gerald Feb. 9, 1937 2,087,423 Abrams July 20, 1937 2,105,099 Schuyler Jan. 11, 1938 

